GrahamHawker - Posted - 12/19/2017:  08:20:12

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Originally posted by Yury

See that's where I get confused. Some say these Gold Tones and Washburns are a great upgrade and here you say that they are "less crappy beginner" banjos. If this is indeed the case I might just go another way. I tried an open-back Epiphone MB-100 over the weekend. It's quite cheap, but you know what, I liked it quite a bit. Certainly has none of the nasty metallic twang of MB-200. Perhaps, I should get it for now and put getting an RK to on a back burner.

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I don't think anyone really thinks that of the Gold Tone. Something like that Washburn Mystic has an usual design. I have no idea if it's any good. I can't see much point in getting something as basic as an MB100. It might not have the metallic harshness of an MB200 but it is quite thin sounding.

If you put off getting the fully fledged banjo but still want some sort of upgrade then the Recording King RK-R15 is a decent option. It sounds decent as an open back, miles better than something like an MB100, and Ok with the resonator on once setup. Of the multi ply rimmed tone hoop/rolled brass tone ring banjos in that sort of price range that I've tried it's the one I would choose.

Yury - Posted - 12/19/2017:  08:30:27

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Originally posted by GrahamHawker

quote:

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Originally posted by Yury

See that's where I get confused. Some say these Gold Tones and Washburns are a great upgrade and here you say that they are "less crappy beginner" banjos. If this is indeed the case I might just go another way. I tried an open-back Epiphone MB-100 over the weekend. It's quite cheap, but you know what, I liked it quite a bit. Certainly has none of the nasty metallic twang of MB-200. Perhaps, I should get it for now and put getting an RK to on a back burner.

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I don't think anyone really thinks that of the Gold Tone. Something like that Washburn Mystic has an usual design. I have no idea if it's any good. I can't see much point in getting something as basic as an MB100. It might not have the metallic harshness of an MB200 but it is quite thin sounding.

If you put off getting the fully fledged banjo but still want some sort of upgrade then the Recording King RK-R15 is a decent option. It sounds decent as an open back, miles better than something like an MB100, and Ok with the resonator on once setup. Of the multi ply rimmed tone hoop/rolled brass tone ring banjos in that sort of price range that I've tried it's the one I would choose.

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Ok, MB-100 might not be a good idea, I do agree. My frustration mailny lies in the BG250F vs RK35 conundrum. I am on-board with getting a decent instument but sight unseen is hard to make a choice. 800 vs 1300 CAD price difference is significant but whether it is reflective of the quality difference I cannot possibly measure in the absence of access to either instrument. Perhaps I misunderstood FlyinEagle's post where "less crappy beginner" was mentioned and it does not apply to the likes of BG250? That's where I could use some clarity.

Edited by - Yury on 12/19/2017 08:33:11

FlyinEagle - Posted - 12/19/2017:  10:24:35

 

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Ok, MB-100 might not be a good idea, I do agree. My frustration mailny lies in the BG250F vs RK35 conundrum. I am on-board with getting a decent instument but sight unseen is hard to make a choice. 800 vs 1300 CAD price difference is significant but whether it is reflective of the quality difference I cannot possibly measure in the absence of access to either instrument. Perhaps I misunderstood FlyinEagle's post where "less crappy beginner" was mentioned and it does not apply to the likes of BG250? That's where I could use some clarity.

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Perhaps I could be more poetic with some of my posts…

To be clear, I’ve never played this Gold Tone you are linking to…looks like a convertible banjo with a tone ring. 

What I can tell you is that the low and mid tier gold tones – in my opinion – are far inferior to the Madison line Recording Kings (RK35 and up). 

A lot of folks on the Hangout love the high end Gold Tones.  Whether this particular model is high end or mid-tier someone else will have to answer.  It retails for 1000+ US new, which is getting up there in price for a Gold Tone.

Here is a link to the reviews for this banjo in the reviews section. 

banjohangout.org/reviews/searc...edir=true

And for the RK-35

banjohangout.org/w/reviews/bro...t/v/7185/

Yury - Posted - 12/19/2017:  11:09:49

The reason GT BG250 entered this discussion is because there are a couple of used ones floating around locally for far less than RK35 that are not available used and will need to be shipped.
From what I gather BG250 would be one of the high end ones.

GrahamHawker - Posted - 12/19/2017:  12:22:28

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Originally posted by FlyinEagle

 

Perhaps I could be more poetic with some of my posts…

 

To be clear, I’ve never played this Gold Tone you are linking to…looks like a convertible banjo with a tone ring. 

 

 

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While the BG250 is a convertible without the flange and a multiply rim the one linked in the original post is the BG250F with the flange and 3 ply rim.

Yury - Posted - 12/19/2017:  13:22:01

I connected with a local store owner. He spoke (via email to be precise) at length of quality issues of current RKs and how he doesn't carry them anymore.

His recommendations were GoldTone OB 150 and Deering Artisan Goodtime Special. All are within my (revised) range. He mentioned that the Artisans come in 4 different versions going up to 1200$ CAD.



Thoughts?

Edited by - Yury on 12/19/2017 13:22:55

FlyinEagle - Posted - 12/19/2017:  13:28:35

Here is an archived thread comparing the bg250 to the bf250F.  Seems like they are very different banjos with nearly the same model designation. You will want to keep the models  straight while you weigh your options.

banjohangout.org/archive/229224

Yury - Posted - 12/19/2017:  13:33:11

quote:

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Originally posted by FlyinEagle

Here is an archived thread comparing the bg250 to the bf250F.  Seems like they are very different banjos with nearly the same model designation. You will want to keep the models  straight while you weigh your options.

banjohangout.org/archive/229224

 

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Thanks, yes, I am aware of the distinction. At this point however OB 150 is something I am interested in looking at. The store person contends the differences with OB250F are cosmetics more or less.

Jbo1 - Posted - 12/19/2017:  13:53:55

You might try The Twelfth Fret. They are in Toronto, have an OB-150 on their website, and a lot of other banjos (some very high end). While you might not be able to afford a 3-4 grand banjo, they might show you first hand what to look for, and why this or that is important to the sound and quality of an instrument. It may give your ears an opportunity to hear how good (or not) any instrument is. Good luck.

Jbo1 - Posted - 12/19/2017:  14:01:26

I see people have already recommended the Twelfth Fret, and you've checked it out. Anyways, good luck.

Old Hickory - Posted - 12/20/2017:  17:05:24

Thoughts:

I believe the new OB-150 is a better banjo than the BG250 or BG250F.  But I thought you were looking at a great price on a used one in Canada.  I'm not going back through the messages to confirm.  At just under $900 US the OB-150 is priced to be a competitor with the RK-35 and 36, and maybe Gold Star GF-85, at the entry point to professional grade bluegrass banjos.

I have already described the features that make up a professional grade bluegrass banjo. The OB-150 has them all.

If you can afford the OB-150, I see no reason to get a Goodtime Artisan.  WIth the Gold TOne you get 24 round hooks and a heavy notched tension hoop vs 16 flat hooks and a grooved hoop on the Goodtime.  The Artisan does feature the first true fingerboard in the Goodtime series, but still no truss rod in the neck.  The tone ring in the highest Goodtime is steel, vs bell metal in the Gold Tone.

I never described the BG-250 or BG-250F as less crappy beginner instruments.  They are, or were, in fact, Gold Tone's entry-level pro-quality instruments until the OB-150 was launched.  I think less of the Washburns. While they are better than what you currently own, they are generic instruments built from generic parts, assembled in a Chinese factory that turns out essentially identical banjos that differ mainly in the name put on the peghead for the various importers.

Yury - Posted - 12/20/2017:  19:05:54

^ I suppose the context mutated somewhat. In was looking at BG-250F only because one was available used, now it is not and the used market is close to empty. That leaves me with new and here where OB-150 surfaced. Pricewise it seems the same level as BG-250F was new and even slightly cheaper than Goodtime Artisan.

So OB-150 seems a winner here then.

Thanks for clearing it up.

Edited by - Yury on 12/20/2017 19:06:30